--- title: "Braces for Crossbite UK: Fixed Brace Options" url: https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/braces-for-crossbite description: "Yes, fixed braces treat most crossbites in the UK. See when aligners or jaw surgery may be needed instead, plus typical costs and treatment time." updated: 2026-10-07T00:00:00Z publisher: Virtual Consultant Online --- Crossbite Fixed Braces UK Guide # Braces for Crossbite in the UK A crossbite happens when upper and lower teeth don't align correctly side to side or front to back. Fixed braces are often the most effective way to correct it — but the right approach depends on the type, severity, and your age. [Check Your Options](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [About Crossbite](https://virtualconsultant.online/problems/crossbite) ## Can Braces Fix a Crossbite? Yes — fixed braces are one of the most common and effective treatments for crossbite. They can move individual teeth or groups of teeth into proper alignment over the course of treatment. The suitability of braces depends on the type of crossbite, whether the problem is dental (tooth position) or skeletal (jaw position), and how much growth remains. For mild to moderate dental crossbites, braces are usually the primary treatment. For significant skeletal crossbites in adults, orthognathic (jaw) surgery may be required alongside braces. Early treatment in children is often preferred — expanding the upper arch before growth is complete is easier and avoids more complex intervention later. Typical Timeline 12–24 months Typical Cost (Private) £1,500–£5,500 Skeletal crossbites may require surgical planning in addition to braces. ## What Types of Crossbite Are There and How Do Braces Help? ### Posterior Crossbite One or more upper back teeth sit inside the lower back teeth. Often treated with a palate expander in growing patients, followed by fixed braces to refine alignment. Common in children and teenagers ### Anterior Crossbite One or more upper front teeth sit behind the lower front teeth. Fixed braces can tip or move the upper teeth forward. Early intervention gives the best result. Can cause jaw shift and wear if left untreated ### Dental Crossbite The jaw is in the correct position but individual teeth are out of alignment. Braces alone are usually sufficient to correct a dental crossbite. Best prognosis for braces-only treatment ### Skeletal Crossbite The underlying jaw position causes the crossbite. In adults, braces alone may not fully resolve it. Jaw surgery combined with braces is sometimes needed for a stable result. May require surgical planning ## What Happens During Crossbite Treatment with Braces? Treatment typically starts with a full orthodontic assessment, including photographs, impressions or digital scans, and sometimes X-rays to assess the jaw and bone structure. For growing patients with a posterior crossbite, a removable or fixed palate expander may be used first to widen the upper arch. Fixed braces are then placed to align the teeth and correct the bite. For adults, fixed braces work on the teeth directly. If the crossbite has a skeletal component, your orthodontist may refer to a maxillofacial surgeon to discuss whether jaw surgery is part of the plan. ## What Happens If a Crossbite Is Left Untreated? A crossbite that is not treated can worsen over time. Tooth-on-tooth contact at the wrong angle causes uneven wear, increased sensitivity, and a higher risk of chipping. Jaw shifting to accommodate a crossbite can lead to facial asymmetry, jaw muscle strain, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems. The earlier a crossbite is assessed and treated, the simpler and less expensive the intervention tends to be. ### FAQs Can braces fix a crossbite in adults? Fixed braces can correct a dental crossbite in adults, where the problem is the position of individual teeth rather than the jaws themselves — teeth can be moved through bone at any age. What braces alone cannot change is the size or position of the jaw. If the upper jaw is genuinely too narrow or set back relative to the lower jaw, that is a skeletal crossbite, and in an adult whose growth has finished the options are camouflage treatment with braces, surgically assisted expansion, or jaw surgery combined with braces. Records taken at the assessment, including X-rays, determine which category applies. How long does crossbite treatment with braces take? Most crossbites treated with fixed braces take somewhere between 12 and 24 months from fitting to debond. A single tooth in crossbite, with the rest of the bite reasonably well aligned, can be corrected in less. Longer courses are usual where several back teeth are involved, where the upper arch needs widening with an expander before the braces phase begins, or where the crossbite sits alongside crowding, spacing or a jaw discrepancy that also needs treating. Cases planned with jaw surgery run longest, because braces are worn before and after the operation. Your orthodontist gives a case-specific estimate at the planning stage. Can clear aligners fix a crossbite instead of braces? Clear aligners can correct some crossbites, and are most predictable for mild anterior cases where one or two upper front teeth sit behind the lower ones. They are a weaker choice for posterior crossbites involving the back teeth, particularly where the bite itself is interfering — the teeth clash before the aligner can tip or expand them, so fixed braces usually give more control. Aligner plans for crossbites almost always need bonded attachments, and sometimes elastics worn between the arches. Skeletal crossbites are not corrected by aligners at all. See our clear aligners for crossbite guide for more detail. Will I need a palate expander as well as braces? An expander is added when the upper arch is too narrow for the lower one, which is the usual cause of a crossbite affecting the back teeth. In children and teenagers who are still growing, a fixed rapid maxillary expander is normally fitted first to widen the upper jaw at the mid-palatal suture, and the braces phase follows once the width is stable. In adults that suture has fused, so non-surgical expansion mostly tips teeth rather than moving bone; larger corrections need surgically assisted expansion. Not every crossbite needs an expander — single-tooth crossbites are often handled by the braces alone. Can the NHS treat a crossbite with braces? NHS orthodontic treatment for a crossbite is available to patients under 18 who meet the clinical need threshold, measured with the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). That means a dental health component of grade 4 or 5, or grade 3 with an aesthetic component of 6 or above. A crossbite that makes the jaw displace to one side on closing scores highly and commonly qualifies. Under-18s in full-time education are exempt from the charge, so treatment is normally free. Adults are essentially never eligible, other than where orthodontics forms part of a hospital jaw surgery plan. How much does crossbite treatment with braces cost in the UK? Private crossbite treatment with fixed braces in the UK typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500 depending on the severity of the crossbite and whether additional appliances such as a palate expander are needed. NHS treatment is free for eligible children under 18. What is the difference between a dental crossbite and a skeletal crossbite? A dental crossbite is caused by individual teeth being in the wrong position — the jaw itself is correctly aligned. Braces alone can usually correct a dental crossbite. A skeletal crossbite is caused by the underlying jaw position; in adults, jaw surgery alongside braces may be needed for a complete correction. ## Related Pages [Clear Aligners for Crossbite When aligners may correct a crossbite and when fixed braces are the better option.](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/clear-aligners-for-crossbite) [Crossbite: Causes & Overview What a crossbite is, how it develops, and why treatment matters.](https://virtualconsultant.online/problems/crossbite) [Types of Braces UK Compare metal, ceramic, lingual and self-ligating brace options.](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments/braces) [Braces for Overbite How fixed braces correct overbite and what to expect from treatment.](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/braces-for-overbite) Explore your options Quick links Not sure where to start? Use these quick links to explore orthodontic treatments, typical costs, and helpful guides that explain what different options involve. Whether you're researching braces or clear aligners, comparing pricing, or just getting a feel for what comes next, you can browse at your own pace and come back when you're ready to request a quote. Explore [Get Quote](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Costs](https://virtualconsultant.online/costs) [Browse Treatments](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments) [Teeth Straightening](https://virtualconsultant.online/treatments/teeth-straightening) [Browse Problems](https://virtualconsultant.online/problems) [Locations](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations) [Near Me](https://virtualconsultant.online/locations/orthodontic-treatment-near-me) [NHS Eligibility Checker](https://virtualconsultant.online/about/do-i-qualify-for-nhs-treatment) [IOTN Score Checker](https://virtualconsultant.online/about/iotn-score-checker) [How To Take Orthodontic Photos](https://virtualconsultant.online/about/process/how-to-take-orthodontic-photos) [Online Orthodontist](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/online-orthodontist-uk) [Research Papers](https://virtualconsultant.online/research) [Social Channels](https://virtualconsultant.online/social) ## Get a Clinician-Reviewed Assessment for Your Crossbite Submit guided photos and receive an indication of whether braces, aligners, or another approach may suit your bite. [Start Free Assessment](https://virtualconsultant.online/evaluations/quote) [Clear Aligners for Crossbite](https://virtualconsultant.online/guides/clear-aligners-for-crossbite) Citation details Title Braces for Crossbite UK: Fixed Brace Options Publisher Virtual Consultant Online Published 2024-06-01 Updated 2026-08-08 URL [https://staging.virtualconsultant.online/guides/braces-for-crossbite](https://staging.virtualconsultant.online/guides/braces-for-crossbite)